Cam-locking system for a retractable driveshaft and method for use thereof

Abstract

A cam-locking system for use with a retractable driveshaft that includes a housing, a cam carrier located at least partially in the housing, and a cam rotatably coupled to the cam carrier. Translation of the cam carrier along a central axis allows the cam to rotate into cooperative engagement with a catch recess on an interior surface of the housing, preventing the cam carrier from translating backwards, and thereby maintaining the retractable driveshaft in an engaged position. Further advancement of the cam carrier allows that cam to rotate into and unlocking gap in the interior surface of the housing, which enables the cam carrier to translate backwards along the central axis below the locked position, thereby disengaging the retractable driveshaft.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A locking mechanism, comprising:
 a housing having a first end and an opposite second end, an exterior surface extending from the first end to the second, and an interior surface generally opposite the exterior surface, the interior surface including a catch recess, the housing having a central axis extending through the first end and the second end; 
 a cam carrier located at least partially within the housing and being capable of translating along the central axis of the housing, the cam carrier having an outside surface generally facing the interior surface of the housing, an inside surface opposite the outside surface, and an aperture extending from the outside surface to the inside surface of the cam carrier; and 
 a cam rotatably coupled to the cam carrier about a cam axis, the cam having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the cam having a length measured from the first end to the second end and a width transverse to the length, the length being greater than the width, the second end being configured to cooperatively engage the catch recess of the interior surface of the housing; 
 wherein the locking mechanism is configured such that when the cam is cooperatively engaged with the catch recess of the housing the cam carrier is prevented from translating toward the second end of the housing; and 
 wherein the cam axis is movable along a longitudinal length of the catch recess. 
 
     
     
       2. The locking mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the cam carrier is configured to move a shaft therewith. 
     
     
       3. The locking mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the housing further comprises an unlocking gap adjacent to the catch recess, wherein the unlocking gap is configured to permit the cam to rotate. 
     
     
       4. The locking mechanism of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a shuttle located at least partially within the cam carrier, the shuttle having a first cam contact surface facing generally towards the second end of the housing and an opposite second cam contact surface facing generally towards the first end of the housing. 
 
     
     
       5. The locking mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein the cam is configured so the first end of the cam contacts the first cam contact surface of the shuttle when the second end of the cam is cooperatively engaged with the catch recess. 
     
     
       6. The locking mechanism of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a first elastic member between a top surface of the shuttle and the cam carrier; and 
 a second elastic member between a bottom surface of the shuttle and the cam carrier. 
 
     
     
       7. The locking mechanism of  claim 6 , wherein the cam is biased so the length of the cam is orthogonal to the central axis of the housing. 
     
     
       8. The locking mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein the cam carrier is biased towards the second end of the housing.